Polish Politicians Return Honors to Navrocki Amid Controversy
Political tensions in Poland are escalating as several politicians have begun returning their honors to President Karol Navrocki. Former lawmaker Piotr Fogler stated that he does not recognize Navrocki as the legitimate president of Poland, highlighting a photo of the Golden Cross of Merit associated with his statement.
Fogler emphasized that Navrocki had stripped awards from leaders of a nation currently under attack, saying, “This is not a gesture towards the president who awarded me; I respect him. It is directed at the current resident of Belvedere, who increasingly makes Poland and all of us a laughing stock!”
Furthermore, Fogler expressed his expectation for a recount of the election votes, asserting that the announced results are not final. He declared, “He [Navrocki] is not the president of my country, but merely a misunderstanding.”
As noted by Fakt.pl, Fogler has a lengthy political background. He served as a deputy in the 1991-1993 Sejm, held various local government positions, and was a member of the Civic Platform party until his expulsion in 2006. He later ran for office with the Polish People’s Party (PSL) in 2014.
This incident is not isolated; earlier this year, retired Colonel Maciej Moritz returned a medal awarded by the U.S. for NATO missions in Afghanistan in protest against Navrocki’s stance regarding comments made by former U.S. President Donald Trump about allied troops. However, the Polish presidency later reinstated Moritz’s award, clarifying that the intended recipient should have been the NATO Secretary General’s Bureau.
Context
- On May 26, President Zelensky awarded the Special Operations Forces “North” honorary designation named after the Heroes of UPA, which sparked criticism including from Navrocki, who claimed such actions “provide arguments for Russian propaganda.” He suggested stripping Zelensky of the White Eagle Order awarded by former President Andrzej Duda in 2023.
- This led to disputes within Ukrainian and Polish political circles. On June 19, Navrocki announced the revocation of Zelensky’s order, later stating that “the pain threshold has been exceeded.” Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk criticized this decision, asserting it only benefits Moscow.
- In response to Zelensky’s order revocation, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiga announced his refusal of the Polish Commander’s Cross with Star of the Order of Merit. The following day, Chief of the Ukrainian Presidential Office Kyrylo Budanov and the Ukrainian ambassador to Poland Vasyl Bodnar also declined their respective awards.
- On June 20, Zelensky stated he would return the order to Navrocki by mail. Subsequently, three former Ukrainian presidents—Leonid Kuchma, Viktor Yushchenko, and Petro Poroshenko—also renounced the White Eagle Order.
